Daniel Bryan led an entire sea of fans into the ring, all clad in Daniel Bryan shirts, for a new round of Occupy Raw. The demand? A match with Triple H. After unsuccessfully trying to keep the show going, Hunter relented. But Bryan played his hand a little further and demanded a spot in the championship match if he beat Hunter, to which Hunter said it's on!

That was one of the most interesting and memorable segments I've seen on this show in years. I can't remember the last time I saw a segment that was so outside-the-box. Really, REALLY cool stuff. And while there's nothing necessarily guaranteeing that Bryan doesn't lose against Hunter, we can reasonably assume that he'll somehow wind up in the championship match, no matter what happens.

The show wasn't bad, but this segment easily overshadowed the rest of it and was the highlight, by a long shot.

EDIT: I see now that the thread has already been started. I don't know what to do with this, so here it is.

The Recap for WWE Raw 3/10/2014 from Memphis, TN.

Hulk Hogan opens the show for us to announce an "intense idea" that he had while watching his legendary match against Andre on the network. By the way, if you haven't seen the special about that match on the network, check it out. Good stuff. Anyway, Hogan's idea is to introduce a 30-Man over-the-top battle royale at WrestleMania dedicated to Andre's memory. And it has the Andre the Giant Memorial Trophy as a reward! John Cena joins us to laud this idea and declare himself a contestant for the battle royale but Bray Wyatt and his family have something to say about that. Bray wants to talk about pride, which is his favorite sin. He talks about pride being the downfall of the strongest men, even those who call themselves immortals. In his eyes, Cena and Hogan are both liars and he wants to kill Cena's legacy. Bray tells Cena he doesn't get it; if he looks him square in the eye, he will see a god. Cena points out the obvious problem with talking about pride and then declaring oneself as a god, and changes his mind about the battle royale to challenge Bray at WM instead. He calls Bray a "homeless dude" who's spent too long in Margaritaville. Wyatt shrugs off this insult and chides Cena for providing the people with more false promises. He sics Rowan and Harper onto Hogan and Cena, and...we go to a break. Strange duelling promos. Usually Bray's stuff makes sense, but this didn't. Cena was more logical though I could've done without the song, which totally changed the tone of the whole segment.

Back from the break, and we have...Match 1: Eric Rowan v John Cena

Rowan attacks the leg, as we suddenly remember that injury from two weeks ago. Cena fights him off but runs into a pumphandle backbreaker for 2. Cena launches a brief comeback but gets caught in a fallaway slam. Rowan keeps beating him up and slams him, but Cena rolls off the top rope and rolls him up for the pin. 0 for 1. Not a great promo and a nothing match.

Post match, Bray is less than pleased. Harper and Rowan threaten to attack but back off at the last moment, leaving Cena and Hogan to pose for the crowd.

Triple H and Stephanie join us to discuss last week's events regarding Daniel Bryan. Steph points out that Bryan's actions last week were grounds for termination but they believe there is value in the Bryan brand, though not as much as an A+ brand. Steph wants to lead by example, so she apologizes for last week's actions.Oh, and she wants Bryan to publicly apologize as well. Otherwise there will be severe consequences.

Match 2: The Usos v Ryback and Curtis Axel

Jimmy dominates Ryback to start but Ryback locks him up and tags in Axel. That doesn't work well because he gets uppercut for his troubles. Axel comes back and dumps Jimmy to the outside. Ryback attacks him outside and gets a cover back inside for 1. Ryback gets a suplex and Axel comes in for the headlock, but Jimmy fights out. Axel hangs onto his tights to prevent a tag, but Jimmy flips over him and it's a HOT TAG! Jey kicks Axel's ass, and he takes an awesome flip-bump off a leg trip. He sets up to crush Axel in the corner but Ryback interrupts. Jey avoids him and crushes Axel anyway, then wipes them both out with superkicks. Jey takes out Ryback on the outside (while making the tag mid-dive) and Jimmy finishes Axel inside with the Crossbody Splash! Great finish! 1 for 2.

Kane berates the Shield backstage, calling them out for airing their dirty laundry on SmackDown, but they hit back, reminding him of his recent failures against Daniel Bryan. Kane sees value in them and wants them to remain unified, and so tonight offers them a test: Cody Rhodes and Goldust. Ambrose promises they will step up, because they always do, and they'll exorcise their demons. Or any other demons who might get in their way. Kane looked quite snazzy there in his black and purple combination.

Match 3: Non-title: Jack Swagger v Big E

Swagger wins a lockup and hits some elbows but gets reversed and gets his ass kicked. Swagger stops a 10-count in the corner and nails a clothesline for 2. Swagger wants the Patriot Lock but Big E fights out of that but gets booted down. Big E makes the big comeback but Swagger clips him and hangs him on the ropes. Zeb wants Cesaro to get involved but Cesaro has second thoughts. Swagger doesn't appreciate that but spends too long talking trash and gets rolled up by Big E. 1 for 3. Zeb absolutely blows a gasket afterwards, quivering. He wants them to make up and shake hands, and he's serious because OFF COMES THE JACKET! Neither Real American wants to make up but they relent and shake, though Cesaro puts in a little extra mustard on the shake.

It's Undertaker time! King forgets that Undertaker and Brock have fought before, but JBL and Cole correct him. Taker wants to talk but Paul Heyman interrupts. Respectfully. He tells Taker that his is the most precious streak in sports and entertainment. He talks about getting to 21 consecutive wins, when a man becomes a myth, a myth becomes a legend, and a legend a diety. He lists off other great names who never managed to win more than 4 consecutive matches at Wrestlemania, including Hogan and Cena. He wants to preserve that streak and that's why he wants to beg Undertaker not to step in the ring with Brock Lesnar. The people need something to worship, but after WM, they would have nothing. Heyman says Brock will step into the unknown, but he isn't the one who needs to fear it - it's Taker, because it'll be the end of the streak. I cannot do any justice to the brilliance of that promo. Undertaker states that the fear of the unknown is the greatest fear, greater than that of death, and promises Brock will rest in peace. 2 for 4. Paul Heyman. Legend.

Seth and Cody start off and it's Cody with the early advantage when he nails a stalling front suplex. The Rhodes make quick tags and keep Rollins under control until he flips out of the corner and sends Cody face-first into the corner. Tremendous athleticism. Reigns comes in and kicks Cody's ass and Rollins comes in with a kneedrop for 2. Reigns misses a splash in the corner, allowing Goldust to get tagged in. Goldust nails his falling slap and a snappy spinebuster for 2. Goldust catches Reigns with a mule kick and wipes out both Shield members as Rollins comes in. Reigns gets dumped and Goldust tosses Rollins onto him. Simultaneous dives! Ambrose is losing his mind! We hit the break!

Back from the break, it's the Shield in control after a Reigns Samoan Drop. Rollins comes in with a cravat and sets up Reigns' Apron Kick. Reigns stops a brief Goldust flurry with an elbow and pins him for 2. Rollins comes in but Goldust kicks his ass. Seth stops one tag, but Goldust poweslams him and it's HOT TAG time! Disaster Kick for Rollins! Moonsault, and someone catches him properly for a change. That gets 2. Cody gets a musclebuster but Reigns breaks up the pin. Goldust dropkicks him out and Seth and Cody have a meeting of heads and are out. Reigns is back it and freakin' BREAKS Goldust in half with the Spear! Rollins stops the Disaster Kick with a powerbomb in the corner and the Curbstomp finishes for him! SICK finish. 3 for 5. Fantastic stuff. These guys have amazing chemistry.

Match 5: AJ Lee and Tamina v The Bella Twins

Is it sad that I can only tell the Bellas apart by boob size? Nikki starts with Tamina and she and Brie manage to control Tamina for a little bit. Brie with a knee, but AJ's had enough and she distracts, allowing Tamina to knock Brie the fuck out. Tamina gets a 2-count off that and tags AJ in for some teamwork and a spinkick. Natalya on commentary is close to insufferable. AJ grabs a headlock but Brie fights out and dropkicks her. Nikki gets a tag but AJ can't reach Tamina and gets her ass kicked. Nikki wipes the floor with AJ but Tamina breaks it up. Brie jumps onto her and AJ knocks HER off the apron, but spends too long admiring her work, allowing Nikki to hit her with Shock Treatment for the win. 3 for 6. Nothing much here. Postmatch, Natalya gets up on the apron to highlight her Total Divas tension with the Bellas.

Daniel Bryan heads out and he doubts the sincerity behind the Authority's apology. He has no intention of apologizing for doing something he should've done a long time ago - kick HHH in the face! Triple H can't have it both ways - if he lays his hands on Bryan, Bryan wants to fight. Trips expects Bryan to apologize but he's got one word for him - NO. Bryan is sick of Triple H and so are all the people, and tonight they are going to force Hunter to listen. Tonight the #YesMovement will #OccupyRaw! Bryan isn't leaving until he gets what he wants, and there are people in DB shirts filling the ring and the ringside area, Yessing their hearts out. We head to a break and I can't help but think how well this stunt would've played in front of a hardcore crowd like Chicago, Philly, Boston, or New York.

Back from the break, Triple H is finally out and he tries to trivialize this whole thing by reminding these people that their thirty seconds of fame are up and they will all be arrested. Bryan threatens an arena walkout, which gets HHH to think for a second, but he calls for security anyway. It's just two dudes. They give it the old college try but realize that the situation is beyond their pay range. Stephanie is NOT thrilled about this. Trips calls for the next match to happen as he's had enough of this, and it's poor Damien Sandow. His path is blocked, and he quickly gives up, drawing the ire of Trips and Stephanie. She screams her heart out at Bryan, reminding that her family owns the ring, but Bryan refutes her and she has no real leverage. Bryan lays out his demand: Triple H at WMXXX. HHH finally gives in, after one last patronizing speech about doing all this to protect Bryan from himself (Hunter), because at WM he will end him and his Yes Movement. Bryan says that's not *all* he wants. He also wants a title shot! So if Bryan beats Hunter, it's a triple-threat for the title! And about seven months from Summerslam, here we are. They might have found a way to salvage their main event. 4 for 7. It went a little long, and the crowd wasn't the greatest, but this happened, and that's really all that was needed.

Match 6: Memphis Street Fight: Sheamus v Christian

The stipulation is voted for by the Universe. Sheamus beats on him but misses a Brogue and Christian slaps the taste out of his mouth. That only serves to piss SHeamus off, and he kicks Christian's ass all around ringside. Sheamus grabs a guitar but misses after too much showboating, and Christian takes the guitar to his gut. Sheamus reverses a whip into the steps and smacks Christian's head into the steps but misses a big stomp. Christian decides to take a walk but Sheamus follows and kicks his ass near the stage, but Christian comes back with a sick tornado DDT on the floor! That takes us to a break. Back in, Christian dominates and absolutely GOES TO TOWN on him with a kendo stick but it only gets 2. Sheamus escapes a headshot and kicks his ass as the commentators forget about this match. Sheamus wants some sweet revenge with the kendo sticks but Christian escapes. They fight over the stick, and Sheamus wins, culminating in White Noise for 2. Christian rolls out to escape but Sheamus is A-CLUBBERING. That move has a new name - the Ten Rings of the Bow, maybe? Christian escapes the Brogue and drags Sheamus outside with him, but gets caught with the Irish Curse. Sheamus starts tossing chairs in the ring, but then grabs some musical instruments for more damage. Christian stops this in the tracks and frog splashes him with a chair but it only gets 2. Christian grabs a drum to put an end to this, but Sheamus Brogues him THROUGH it and that's game. 5 for 8. Fun as usual, but it would be great if Christian actually won one of these.

Backstage, Brad Maddox faces an angry Batista as the Authority have left the building. Orton shows up and Maddox implores the two of them to work together. Orton is okay with that, but Dave just walks away.

Wyatts interrupt a replay of the Hogan segment, and Bray accepts Cena's challenge. Bray says Cena should accept that he's as much a monster as Bray is. He promises to be a smiling child if need be, or a vicious beast if required. He reminds Cena that it's Cena who has everything to lose.

Alexander Russev is introduced, again. He gets the WHAT treatment this time as he does his speel and stands atop the podium. His music sounds like a recycled, more sinister version of La Resistance's music.

Match 7: Big Show and Daniel Bryan v Randy Orton and Batista

Orton kicks Bryan's ass to start but Bryan dumps him off a criss-cross and it's Air Goat time! We head to the break as he leads some YES chants. Back from the break, Bryan controls Orton but he reverses with a high knee and tags in Batista. Batista nails the shoulder thrusts and tags in Orton. Orton stuffs a comeback with a powerslam for 1. They take turns beating on Bryan and Batista's clothesline gets 2. Bryan escapes a knee and tags in Show and we have his segment with Batista. He squishes Dave in the corner but gets distracted by Orton and hung up on the ropes. Batista boots him in the head and tries the Batista Bomb, but Show backdrops out of it and tags Bryan. He goes off on both heels. YES kicks to Orton! Buzzsaw! Bryan heads to the top and fights off Batista, but Orton rolls through the Swandive for 2. Bryan catches him into the YES Lock but Batista breaks. Heel miscommunication has Batista spear Orton, and Bryan dumps him after the knee strike. Orton avoids the corner dropkick and hits the rope-hanging DDT, but Bryan reverses the RKO into a backslide for 2. Bryan explodes with the Busaiku Knee Strike and that does it for Orton. Great finishing stretch, but why was Big Show there? 6 for 9.

Bryan leads the crowd in a chorus of YES and that's how we end tonight. Entertaining stuff top to bottom with good matches during every hour.

Originally posted by Guru ZimChristian looked like he ate that kick with his face. That looked really painful. Seemed like a pretty stiff match - I was surprised.

It's one of the reasons I generally enjoy watching Sheamus. That guy seems to enjoy receiving and handing out shitkickings. I still remember his match with DB at Extreme Rules 2012, and I'm eagerly waiting for when he locks horns with Cesaro.

Actually watched the full show this week, minus the Authority promo, the Usos and the Diva match. Loved the #OccupyRAW segment, they actually pulled something original in this insanely recycled storyline. It kinda surprised me that the WWE actually made use of the oft-suggested "Bryan makes it a 3-way dance if he beats HHH" angle, but it probably shouldn't have. I knew they had to have some way to inject a face into the big title match, as a heel v heel match would get thoroughly shat upon. Especially with "Boo-tista," which is what even the commentators are calling him now.

It's now almost certain that Bryan will win the HHH match, though it might well be via disqualification. I'm predicting that HHH will pull out Mjolnir and smash Bryan's skull with it, and the two heels will be circling each other when "Flight of the Valkyries" suddenly cues up and a bloodied and bandaged Bryan comes out to tremendous applause. Then Bryan finally gets his title to the biggest pop EVER.

I have to say, WWE is not usually very good at the long game, but they really did work this angle to an awesome degree. They kept Bryan in the spotlight while consistently screwing him out of title match after title match, then brought back Batista and not only let him win the Rumble, didn't even include Bryan in it at all. I'm not sure if including him in the WM match was the idea all along, or if Creative finally caved to the overwhelming fan pressure and decided to change their main event. If DB wins at WMXXX, I'm gonna say they swerved us all with the Batista thing; if he doesn't, then it was a last-minute attempt to salvage what would've been a bomb of a match. I almost can't imagine Bryan NOT winning both matches at WM, though ... this is such an obvious and amazing payoff that to delay it to the next PPV or the next night on RAW would be such an anticlimax.

Even as people were telling me they'd do the HHH/Bryan->Triple Threat thing, I never thought that they'd actually do it. I'm glad they are, although there's this part of me that still buys the "Batista's contract says he gets the title!" clause, so who knows if it'll end well, especially since Bryan went over on Orton tonight and beat Batista by DQ last week.

It certainly guarantees that WrestleMania will be more interesting than it was last year. Here's hoping Daniel Bryan gets that Bret Hart at WM10, Benoit/Guerrero at WM20 main event underdog win that seems to come once in a decade. Of course, that's proven to never work out long term, but it's always made for the best endings. Especially if CM Punk's ghost comes out at the end to congratulate Bryan.

It's already an homage to both WM10 and WM20, with the challenger wrestling twice in one night and the main event being a triple threat, so let's not end with Batista or Orton standing tall.

I liked the Occupy segment. I wish they did this last week in Chicago, because that crowd woulda gone nuts for it. Still, the story progression of Bryan/HHH seems to be going well. Assuming Bryan is actually going to beat HHH clean, it's fine. The only way for this angle to have any real closure is for HHH to take the same knee that put away John Cena (a moment HHH subsequently robbed him of) and for him to win the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

Sheamus and Christian are really beating the hell out of each other in a feud I can't bring myself to care about. A for effort, guys. I hope the 30 Man Andre Battle Royal comes down to someone else, but that you two do pretty good in it.

I'm loving every minute of Cena/Wyatt. When I first heard about it during the winter, it was a total "WTF?" move, but now I really see it and it's blossomed into two hyperbolic icons of absurdity saying crazy shit to each other each week. I could go either way on the match outcome. I don't think Bray needs to win (especially after pinning Bryan and Reigns in the last two PPVs) and that main eventing with Cena at WrestleMania already elevates him, and that Cena has lost too many PPVs in a row for him to NOT win this one, but if Bray wins, cool! Monster heel status.

Triple H showed more vulnerability against those two middle-aged security goons than he's done against any wrestler in years.

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball

And Big Bad wins this thread. Alright, so they pull their collective head out of their asses and dangling the carrot of Bryan being in the main event. I still think its a bit of a trap, but at this point people want Bryan to be a reason to order the PPV or the network and this is the out. I do love the idea of the Wrestlemania Battle Royal.

Cena is going be goofy, because he is facing goofy opponents. He can't help himself and to be fair, they are goofy. So, we might have three triple threats at Mania, each one for the title? That seems weird. I feel so bad for the Rhodes Brothers, they are not getting their one on one match at Mania. It seems even more pointless to give the belts to the Outlaws when they could have carried it to Mania and fought Shield or the Uso Brothers.

(edited by lotjx on 11.3.14 0731)The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerIf Cena wins the Andre trophy, they have to rename the You Can't Slammy. I wonder if Batista might win the battle royal as a consolation prize.

I sincerely doubt that any big names are going to be in the battle royal if they have other matches that night. This is going to be the thing to get as many faces on the show as possible. However, I could see this as being a good place to have "The Real Americans Explode!" happen.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerIf Cena wins the Andre trophy, they have to rename the You Can't Slammy. I wonder if Batista might win the battle royal as a consolation prize.

I sincerely doubt that any big names are going to be in the battle royal if they have other matches that night. This is going to be the thing to get as many faces on the show as possible. However, I could see this as being a good place to have "The Real Americans Explode!" happen.

This. And I think Matt missed the line by Cena where he backed out of the battle royal in order to challenge Wyatt at WrestleMania.